The 38-year old pop star announced on his website Monday that he is a “fortunate homosexual man” who is “very blessed to be who I am.”

Though speculation raged for years about the Latino singer’s flamboyant dance moves–always performed with beautiful female partners–Martin said he decided to come out to the world after beginning his memoirs and realizing his sexual orientation was “something worth celebrating.”

The “Shake your Bon Bon” singer, a father of twin boys from a surrogate mother, said the announcement brought him happiness he never felt before.

“Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment,” he wrote. “These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn’t even know existed.”

In a 1999 interview with Rolling Stone, Martin danced around the question of his sexuality.

“You can think whatever you want. I know what I am, my beliefs, what I like and don’t like,” he said, noting that he had a girlfriend in the past.